Hostility and civil tumult reigns Between my conscience, and my cousin's death. The dreadful motion of a murderous thought, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind, Than to be butcher of an innocent child. John. Doth Arthur live? O haste thee to the peers; Throw this report on their incensed rage, [Exeunt. 17 Holinshed thus continues the story of Hubert's doings touching the prince: "When the Bretons were nothing pacified, but rather kindled more vehemently to work all the mischief they could devise, in revenge of their sovereign's death, there was no remedy but to signify abroad again, that Arthur was as yet living, and in health. Now when the king heard the truth of all this matter, he was nothing displeased for that his commandment was not executed, sith there were divers of his captains which uttered in plain words, that he should not find knights to keep his castles if he dealt so cruelly with his nephew. For if it chanced any of them to be taken by the King of France or other their adversa ries, they should be sure to taste of the like cup." H. 1 SCENE III. The same. Before the Castle. Enter ARTHUR, on the Walls. Arth. The wall is high; and yet will I leap down. Good ground, be pitiful, and hurt me not! There's few, or none, do know me; if they did, If I get down, and do not break my limbs, [Leaps down. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones. Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones! 1 [Dies. The old chroniclers give various accounts of Arthur's death, of which Shakespeare took the least offensive. Matthew Paris relating the event uses the word evanuit; and it appears to have been conducted with impenetrable secrecy. The French historians say that John, coming in a boat during the night to the castle of Rouen, where the young prince was confined, stabbed him while supplicating for mercy, fastened a stone to the body, and threw it into the Seine, in order to give some colour to a report, which he caused to be spread, that the prince, attempting to escape out of a window, fell into the river, and was drowned. Holinshed's state ment of the matter is very affecting. Touching the manner in very deed of the end of this Arthur, writers make sundry reports. Nevertheless, certain it is that in the year next ensuing he was removed from Falaise unto the castle or tower of Rouen, out of the which there was not any that would confess that ever he saw him go alive. Some have written, that as he essayed to have escaped out of prison, and proving to climb over the walls of the castle, he fell into the river of Seine, and so was drowned. Other write, that through very grief and languor he pined away, and died of natural sickness. But some affirm that King John secretly caused him to be murdered and made away, so as it is not thoroughly agreed upon, in what sort he finished his days; but verily King John was had in great suspicion, whether worthily or not, the Lord knoweth " II. 1 Hostility and civil tumult reigns Between my conscience, and my cousin's death. The dreadful motion of a murderous thought, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind, Than to be butcher of an innocent child. John. Doth Arthur live? O! haste thee to the peers; Throw this report on their incensed rage, [Exeunt. 17 Holinshed thus continues the story of Hubert's doings touching the prince: "When the Bretons were nothing pacified, but rather kindled more vehemently to work all the mischief they could devise, in revenge of their sovereign's death, there was no remedy but to signify abroad again, that Arthur was as yet living, and in health. Now when the king heard the truth of all this matter, he was nothing displeased for that his commandment was not executed, sith there were divers of his captains which uttered in plain words, that he should not find knights to keep his castles if he dealt so cruelly with his nephew. For if it chanced any of them to be taken by the King of France or other their adversa ries, they should be sure to taste of the like cup." H. SCENE III. The same. Before the Castle. Enter ARTHUR, on the Walls. Arth. The wall is high; and yet will I leap down. Good ground, be pitiful, and hurt me not! There's few, or none, do know me; if they did, If I get down, and do not break my limbs, [Leaps down. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones. Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones! 1 [Dies. 1 1 The old chroniclers give various accounts of Arthur's death, of which Shakespeare took the least offensive. Matthew Paris relating the event uses the word evanuit; and it appears to have been conducted with impenetrable secrecy. The French bistorians say that John, coming in a boat during the night to the castle of Rouen, where the young prince was confined, stabbed him while supplicating for mercy, fastened a stone to the body, and threw it into the Seine, in order to give some colour to a report, which he caused to be spread, that the prince, attempting to escape out of a window, fell into the river, and was drowned. Holinshed's state ment of the matter is very affecting. Touching the manner in very deed of the end of this Arthur, writers make sundry reports. Nevertheless, certain it is that in the year next ensuing he was removed from Falaise unto the castle or tower of Rouen, out of the which there was not any that would confess that ever he saw him go alive. Some have written, that as he essayed to have escaped out of prison, and proving to climb over the walls of the castle, he fell into the river of Seine, and so was drowned. Other write, that through very grief and languor he pined away, and died of natural sickness. But some affirm that King John secretly caused him to be murdered and made away, so as it is not thoroughly agreed upon, in what sort he finished his days; but verily King John was had in great suspicion, whether worthily or not, the Lord knoweth " II. Hostility and civil tumult reigns Between my conscience, and my cousin's death. The dreadful motion of a murderous thought, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind, Than to be butcher of an innocent child. John. Doth Arthur live? O! haste thee to the peers; Throw this report on their incensed rage, 17 [Exeunt. 17 Holinshed thus continues the story of Hubert's doings touching the prince: "When the Bretons were nothing pacified, but rather kindled more vehemently to work all the mischief they could devise, in revenge of their sovereign's death, there was no remedy but to signify abroad again, that Arthur was as yet living, and in health. Now when the king heard the truth of all this matter, he was nothing displeased for that his commandment was not executed, sith there were divers of his captains which uttered in plain words, that he should not find knights to keep his castles if he dealt so cruelly with his nephew. For if it chanced any of them to be taken by the King of France or other their adversa ries, they should be sure to taste of the like cup." H. |